According to USDA – NASS the value of vegetable and fruit production in Kentucky totaled $7.8 million in 2012. In addition, there were 29, 963 farms in Kentucky with sales of less than $2,500 each year, which makes up 39% of total farmers in the state. Many small-scale producers grow crops in a high tunnel, as a way to extend their growing season and generate additional revenue. As of 2019, it is estimated that there are more than 1,000 high tunnels in Kentucky. These growers are faced with many challenges, such as diseases, insects, and weeds, which can negatively impact yield, reducing income and access to local food. Management of these issues in high tunnels often requires options and strategies that differ from those used in field production.  Thus, growers are encouraged to utilize integrated pest management (IPM). IPM is a combination of techniques including both pesticide applications coupled with cultural controls. This mix of techniques is important for high tunnel growers, as these producers often cannot afford the high costs of specialty pesticides and equipment. Due to the reliance on an IPM approach, these growers must be educated on the various techniques for management and proper pesticide safety and application. In Kentucky, county Ag and Natural Resources (ANR) and Horticulture Extension agents provide education and serve as resources to high tunnel farmers across the state, and thus also need to be trained on these topics in order to assist small-scale, high tunnel specialty crop producers.

To train agents on IPM practices specifically targeting high tunnel growers, the High Tunnel Integrated Pest Management Agent Training was established through the support of an IPM grant. University of Kentucky Extension Specialists from the Departments of Plant Pathology, Entomology, and Horticulture provided programs on pesticide safety, scouting for plant diseases and insects, biocontrols for insect management, sanitation for plant disease management, methods for visiting with stakeholders, pesticide calculations, and building a tool box for site visits. This half day training was conducted at the University of Kentucky Horticulture Research Farm, to allow agents a hands-on learning experience in the field. Agents that attend the training are provided with a kit of tools and supplies to improve the quality of services they offer to growers.

A total of 16 Extension agents participated in the training. This group of agents is directly connected to approximately 69 high tunnels. A survey found that 62% of these high tunnel growers currently use an IPM program in their operation.  This survey of agents found increases in the level of knowledge/understanding and comfort/confidence in advising clients in the areas of making decisions on sprayers and nozzles for pesticide applications (45%, 80%), mechanical weed management methods and equipment (48% 57%), methods for scouting for insect pests (45%, 38%), methods for evaluating a site for plant diseases (38%, 45%), personal protective equipment (19%, 12%), re-entry intervals (50%, 55%), use of biocontrol methods for insect management (56%, 69%), proper calculations for pesticide use (46%, 72%), calibration of equipment for pesticide application (58%, 60%)and sanitation as a method for plant disease management (27%, 47%).  

During this program, a series of eight videos was recorded. These videos will be made available to agents and stakeholders through an online platform. Open access to these videos ensures that this information is available to a wider range of agents and growers that were not a part of the hands-on training. In addition, these videos can be accessed at any time, and allows for growers and agents to review the information as needed.